Video: Congo Beat Making Lab Documentary

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We previously broke you off with the preview, now view the first short documentary following UNC Chapel Hill professors Apple Juice Kid (producer/DJ/drummer) and Pierce Freelon's (professor/MC) project in the Democratic Republic of Congo — in which the two brought their Beat Making Lab curriculum to Goma in partnership with local non-profit Yole!Africa. This short documentary is the initial release among many including a full song and video created by the youth of Goma, as well as more songs and videos crafted in DRC.

In addition to co-teaching Beat Making Lab, Apple Juice Kid and Freelon founded ARTVSM— a company that is in the process of developing an open source beat making software for implementation in similar Beat Making Labs across Africa and the global south. Watch the short documentart video above and stay tuned for more from Congo Beat Making Lab.

The legendary South African writer on storytelling, losing Bra Hugh Masekela and his hopes for South Africa

Zakes Mda, endearingly referred to as Bra Zakes, is a South African literary giant. He is the exemplar "jack of all trades, master of all"—a professional 'dabbler' as he refers to it. An accomplished novelist, playwright, poet and painter, he has written close to two dozen novels thus far, including the beloved Little Suns, Ways of Dying and The Heart of Redness. He is extremely hilarious as an individual and never afraid to speak his glorious mind. Case in point:

"Some random guy claims he has lost all respect for me because I hold a different view from his on a specific issue. I'm trying hard to recall what his respect has done for me lately or ever did."